DTE Energy’s MIGreenPower program, a voluntary renewable energy program, has surpassed 50,000 residential subscribers. With approximately 500 new residential customers joining each week and demand from some of the state’s largest corporations and non-profit organizations, the program is driving the addition of thousands of MWs of new clean energy to the grid.
“Our customers are demanding a Grid of the Future, a modern new grid delivering clean and reliable energy, and we’re delivering it,” says Jerry Norcia, president and CEO of DTE Energy.
MIGreenPower allows customers to reduce their carbon footprint and contribute more electricity to local wind and solar projects than the 15% DTE. MIGreenPower customers have participated in the program annually, generating 1.9 million MWh of clean electricity.
DTE’s MIGreenPower clean energy projects are being developed in addition to the projects DTE has added to meet the state’s Renewable Energy Portfolio Standard (RPS). In 2021, DTE achieved the state’s 15% RPS – and then increased its renewable energy capacity by 40% as a direct result of the growth of the MIGreenPower program.
DTE plans to add new MIGreenPower solar projects to meet customer demand. These projects will range from a 20 MWarray in Washtenaw county to projects exceeding 100MW in rural areas in Michigan. The company has issued a Request For Proposal to bring online 500 MW of new MIGreenPower renewable energy projects in 2023. Other new solar projects are in various stages of development and will be online by 2025.
In its February 2022 Report, the Michigan Public Service Commission cited the cost-effectiveness and implementation of the P.A. 295 Renewable Energy Standard, the Michigan Public Service Commission credits voluntary renewable energy programs like MIGreenPower with becoming “a major driver of new renewable energy growth in Michigan.” The report also cites an increase in the number of customers taking advantage of their utilities’ voluntary programs to purchase more clean energy.
MIGreenPower provides DTE’s electric customers with an easy and affordable way to reduce their home’s electricity-based carbon footprint for far less than it costs to install a private generation system. For example, private rooftop solar systems can cost upwards to $30,000. MIGreenPower is a subscription service that allows small and large businesses to subscribe for as little $1 per month. Customers can also choose their participation level and unsubscribe at will.
“We want to thank all our MIGreenPower customers for their participation in this program and for helping to create a cleaner, greener Michigan,” states Trevor Lauer, president and COO of DTE’s electric company. “At DTE, we are committed to getting as clean as we can as fast as we can. Adding large-scale projects in clean energy allows us more clean energy to the grid for more people. It’s also less expensive, and more equitable and impactful in terms of carbon emissions avoidance.”
DTE’s 50-plus wind parks and solar farms generate enough clean energy to power nearly 700,000 Michigan homes. The company will be able to generate enough clean energy by 2025 to power more than a million homes.